The River Almond is a symbol of persistence, despite the pressures it has faced. It has continued to flow through the industrial pressures, pollution, weirs and dams and exploitation faced upon it by our ancestors. We appreciate the role of the several Wastewater Treatment Works (WwTWs) in managing and processing our wastewater.

 Over the past few decades, the river has started to recover and is seen as the jewel of West Lothian, with salmon, brown trout and sea trout in it and otters, heron and kingfisher regularly seen along its banks. Communities have increasingly relied on the open space of the river and the physical and mental health benefits it provides throughout the pandemic. 
 
  However, as the river increasingly improves, multiple Wastewater Treatment Works still regularly pollute the river through several outfalls, with combined sewage entering the river. This has resulted in large stretches of the river and its banksides littered with sewage debris which includes toilet paper, sanitary products, baby wipes and more: https://www.edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/crime/company-admits-significant-sewage-leak-lothians-river-which-has-blighted-young-fish-and-poses-risk-dogs-2544105 

According to recent Freedom of Information (FOI) requests for 4 of the 7 WwTW in West Lothian operated by Veolia from 2019,  there was a total discharge number of 501 times across the four sites into the River Almond. This amounts to 572,577 cubic litres.

The worst performing WwTW is Whitburn Sewage Treatment Works which overspilled 177 times during 2019. It alone discharged 334,976 cubic litres of untreated sewage.

In addition, Blackburn Sewage Treatment Works  overspilled 156 times during 2019.

  According to a more recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request for East Calder WWTW, in 2018 and 2019, Veolia’s latest annual reports to SEPA show the total days and frequency where a CSO was in operation: 

SEPA report for 2019 (relating to 2018) - 25 days and 45 instances of CSO operation. 
SEPA report for 2020 (relating to 2019) - 18 days and 68 instances of CSO operation. 

  This is unacceptable particularly as many members of the public allow their dogs to swim in the river. On many a hot day, children and many teens can be seen swimming in the river too providing lifelong memories. Kayaker and anglers use the river as a lifeline to their respective sports which provides both physical and mental health benefits.   

  Communities are tired of constantly reporting pollution events to SEPA, Veolia and Scottish Water and have raised this petition to lobby for urgent action to protect our river and wildlife.

Our main demands are as follows: 

1. More accountability placed on Scottish Water and its operator Veolia to arrange/undertake regular clean-ups of sewage litter along the full affected reach, instead of exclusively around outfalls. 

2. As a minimum, installing and establishing a real-time outfall/CSO operation alert system informing the public, the Council and SEPA when untreated sewage, which does not pass through the full treatment process, is discharged to the river. 

3. Investigate the installation of overflow rubbish collection nets onto outfalls at the WwTWs and booms directly downstream of them.

4. Look into an innovative Sustainable Drainage Systems (SuDs) retrofitting programme: SuDS ponds, wetlands, swales and rain gardens in particular and green roofs where appropriate for areas of West Lothian still on a combined system. 

5. Increasing the storage and treatment capacity of treatment works where land is available on site, for example East Calder Wastewater Treatment Works (WWTW) which discharges into the River Almond during and following moderate to heavily rainfalls. This will reduce the frequency and quantities of sewage entering the river. 

6. Investigate how Livingston’s combined sewerage network can be separated into storm and foul sewerage networks.  

7. Ensure that all new developments treat and attenuate runoff with adequate storage volumes for up to 1:200yr flood events (including allowances for climate change). 

8. Create an action group which will consist of community members and organisations responsible for the pressures the River Almond faces to drive change, innovation, and improvement of the river for the benefit of communities and wildlife.  

9. Strive to achieve designated Bathing Waters status for sections of the River Almond. See the Ilkley Clean River campaign: https://sites.google.com/view/cleanwharfeilkley/swimming-in-the-river

We look forward to working constructively with the relevant organisations (SEPA, Scottish Water, Veolia, West Lothian Council and Forth Rivers Trust) to deliver change and reducing the frequency and quantities of sewage overflows into our river. 

River Almond Action Group


Update 24.06.21

RAAG will be attending the River Almond Improvement Group on Monday 28th June. We will stress that urgent action needs to be taken to significantly reduce the frequency of sewage spills being dumped into our river. If you would like to support RAAG, please becoming a member by joining the Supporters of the River Almond Action Group on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/riveralmondactiongroup If you would like to provide a donation, please see the links here: http://riveralmondactiongroup.org.uk/support/